Magen David Adom Free First Aid Kit - email harvesting scam???

Almost Banned on 06/02/2014 - 00:42

Ok, perhaps not, but I just got an email saying they didn't expect it to go viral, don't have enough first aid kits, very sorry, blah blah blah - oh and by the way, let me tell you about our charity and ask for a donation.
There is just a small part of me that wonders if this was really a clever technique to raise the profile of the organisation and get a massive mailing list for potential donors. How could they not think an online offer for free stuff couldn't get out of control nowadays?
Or am I just being too cynical?

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Comments

  • Geewhizz on 06/02/2014 - 05:49
    +3

    …provides free first aid training to the UK Jewish community

    This might have been your first clue. You're not in the Uk and I'm assuming you're not Jewish. The offer is clearly targeted, Of course it's not an email harvesting scam

    And just because the offer is posted online doesn't make open slather.

    • tanoshiiki on 06/02/2014 - 10:45

      How could they not think an online offer for free stuff couldn't get out of control nowadays?

      Some people forget that what's on the internet can actually be accessed by all… It seems common with lots of small businesses that offer samples on their webpages and then get overloaded with requests.

  • nevbuster on 06/02/2014 - 07:34

    i was really looking forward to my Jewish first aid kit. Got the same email today.

  • mutanti on 06/02/2014 - 07:34

    Dear First Aid Kit Customer,

    Thank you for ordering a free First Aid Kit from Magen David Adom UK.

    We were completely overwhelmed (and somewhat surprised!) by the fact that our offer was picked up by Hot Deals UK. We never thought it would go ‘viral’. Unfortunately we have run out of stock and are unable to provide you with a free First Aid kit at this time.

    As someone who has probably never come across Magen David Adom or its work, I just wanted to take this opportunity to give you a bit of information about our organisation.

    Magen David Adom is Israel’s only national ambulance and medical emergency service. The organisation also collects and supplies 300,000 units of blood each year and is responsible for all Israel’s first aid and pre-hospital medical emergency training. As a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Magen David Adom works internationally to share its support and expertise with those in need around the world. Recenty this has included providing aid to those in the Philippines and Syrian refugees in Jordan.

    As the UK fundraising arm of Israel’s national Red Cross society, MDA UK is continually doing whatever it can to save lives across the world. This is irrespective of race or religion and free from any kind of discrimination. We receive minimal government funding and could not operate without the generosity of donors worldwide.

    Please do check back regularly on our website for First Aid kit stock updates. We would also like to invite you to find out more about our organisation and, if you can, please click here to make a donation. Thank you in advance for considering our cause.

    Yours sincerely

    Daniel Burger
    Chief Executive

  • Rinkoo1000 on 06/02/2014 - 10:39

    Same mail here…asking for donation.

  • nevbuster on 06/02/2014 - 12:04
    +1

    was too good to be true..

  • AssociatedMDAUK @ mdauk.org on 07/02/2014 - 08:00
    +3

    This was genuinely not a scan. Our intention was to provide free first aid kits in a way to promote our free first aid offering.

    I an sorry if you feel scammed or misled - that was not our intention.

    Thanks for your understanding.

    Regards

    Daniel Burger
    Chief Executive
    Magen David UK

  • lisss on 10/02/2014 - 01:41
    +1

    The offer was clearly not targeted or intended to be posted on websites like ozbargain and hot UK deals. Perhaps they were naive to think that the offer wouldn't go viral, but that doesn't make it a scam.

    I highly doubt that the type of people who sign up for random freebies from deal sites are their target as prospective donors.

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